Final answer:
An alpha particle can have a larger range in air than a beta particle with the same energy in lead due to the high electron density in lead, which increases interactions for beta particles. Alpha particles are more massive and have a +2e charge, so they are less likely to decelerate rapidly in air compared to the interactions beta particles undergo in dense materials like lead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason an α (alpha) particle can have a larger range in air than a β (beta) particle with the same energy in lead comes down to the composition of lead compared to air and the differences in mass and charge of the particles.
Lead has a much higher electron density than air which affects how particles interact with the material. Since β particles are electrons, they have a higher likelihood of interacting with the electrons in lead, resulting in more collisions and energy loss.
Moreover, alpha particles are helium nuclei with a +2e charge and a relatively large mass. Therefore, they have a lower likelihood of interacting with air because they cannot penetrate as deeply into materials as beta particles can. However, due to their greater mass, alpha particles do not decelerate as quickly as beta particles in dense materials like lead, allowing them to have a greater range in air.